Title / object name Dress
| Maker | Role | Date |
| Horrockses Fashions | designer | circa 1960 |
| California Productions (New Zealand) Limited | manufacturer(s) | circa 1960 |
Materials cotton, plastic
| Dimensions |
| Width across shoulders | 610 (Width) mm |
| Centre back | 975 (Length) mm |
Classification dresses
Registration Number GH017060
Credit LinePurchased 2011
Throughout the 20th century, many New Zealand garment manufacturers used to manufacture international labels under licence locally. This dress is an example of a well known and much loved British label which was manufactured locally by California Productions (NZ) Ltd. The Horrockses Fashionslabel was founded in England in 1946 by the cotton manufacturer Horrockses, Crewdson Company Ltd. Their ready-to-wear cottondresses became well known for their cut, and unique, colourful prints. In the 1952, the company approached Queen Elizabeth II to see if she would like toview a collection of Horrockses cotton dresses, in order to select a wardrobe for her upcoming Commonwealth tours, including her 1953-53 tour of New Zealand. The company viewed the tour as a way of promoting British merchandise abroad, and the Queen obliged. Fashion storesthroughout the Commonwealth were advised that the Queen would be wearing Horrockses during her tour, so that they could order a selection of styles to caterto those women wanting to emulate their sovereign.